Soluble ink fountain pen



i7, 1935. R. B. KINGMAN E1' AL SOLUBLE INK FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Dec. 18,1934

INVENToRs f/c/rfzl/Z ATTORNEY Mwlwm ...sul x Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES SOLUBLE INK FOUNTAIN PEN Russell B. Kingman and Ralf L. Hartwell, Orange, N. J.

Appiication December 18, 1934, Serial No. 757,991

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fountain pens of the type wherein the writing fluid is produced by bringing a solvent such as water, in contact with a mass of soluble ink material; the writing fluid thus formed being carried in the reservoir of the pen, and being served therefrom to the pen nib when the latter is downturned to writing position, This invention has reference, more particularly, to a fountain pen of the type above indicated, wherein the soluble ink material is stored in the upper end of the pen; novel means being provided for bringing water into dissolving contact therewith, when the pen occupies ythe inverted position in which it is ordinarily carried while not in use, that is with the pen nib end up-turned.

This invention has for its principal object to provide a fountain pen of the type above mentioned, wherein the top end of the pen barrel is provided with a soluble ink storage chamber, a water reservoir between said storage chamber and the pen nib and its writing fluid feed means, and a mixing chamber intermediate said ink storage chamber and said water reservoir, the latter having novel means for facilitating and controlling the flow of water and the writing fluid formed therewith into contact with the ink material tofform a coloring mixture within said `mixing chamber, and at the same time providing means for controlled emission of said coloring mixture into reservoir for the maintenance of usable writing fluid to be served to the pen nib.

The invention has for a further object to provide a mixing chamber, as above mentioned, so constructed that impedance of the movement of liquid from the reservoir thereinto and thence to the ink material storage chamber, when the pen is up-turned to non-writing position, by blocking air bubbles, surface tension, capillary resistance or other obstructive effects is avoided, while at the same time emission or dripping of excess coloring mixture from the mixing chamber into the reservoir, when the pen is disposed in down-turned writing position, is also prevented.

Another object of this invention is toprovide an arrangement of means wherein a quantity of coloring mixture may be retained so as to be readily accessible as a priming mass to be quickly taken up by the liquid introduced into the reservoir.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will become apparent in the following detailed description of the same.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in Which:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section and part elevation of a pen made in accordance with the principles ofl this invention, the removable cap for enclosing the pen nib when the pen is not in 5 use being omitted; Fig. 2 is a transverse section, taken on line 2--2 in Fig. 1, but drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is another transverse section, also drawn on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical l0 longitudinal section of the pen when disposed in inverted non-writing position. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the discharge end of the mixing chamber showing a modified form of liquid transferring duct-bar; Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 15Y are respectively similar fragmentary sectional views, showing means for retaining a portion of coloring mixture exposed to quickA contact by the fluid in the reservoir when the pen is upturned; and Fig. 8 is an end view of the mixing 20 chamber element showing another arrangement of means for the last named purpose.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawing, the reference character I indicates the main body or barrel of the pen, the same having detachably connected with its lower end a throat-section 2 in which is mounted a pen nib 3 together with the suitably channeled '30 feed bar 4 which serves the latter. Extending from the upper or inner end of said throat-,section 2 is a spud 5 of reduced diameter, over which is engaged and held the lower end of a collapsible elastic sac Ii, the lower interior end of which 35 communicates with said channeled feed bar 4. The sac 6 extends upwardly through the interior of the pen barrel I, and provides a Water and writing fluid reservoir.

The upper end of the pen barrel I is open, and the same is preferably counterbored downwardly from its open end to a slightly enlarged diameter, so as to form an annular shoulder 1 spaced downwardly from said open upper end. Inserted in said enlarged counterbore, so as' to abut the shoulder 1, is an annular supporting member 8, which is preferably suitably secured in affixed relation to the barrel I. The outer or upper end of the supporting member 8 is provided with a conical marginal portion 9. The interior of the counterbore above said supporting member is provided with internal screw-threads The reference character II indicates a. detachable ink material holder, the interior of which provides an ink material storage chamber I2. Said storage chamber I2 is open at its lower end, and the holder body II is provided at its lower end with an externally screwthreaded neck I3, preferably of reduced diameter, and adapted to screw into the internally threaded end of the pen barrel I above the supporting member 8, and in such manner that the margin of the open end portion of the holder body seats itself on the conical portion 9 of said supporting member 8, when the holder body is in operative attached relation to the pen barrel, thereby effectively sealing the interior of the chamber E2 against leakage. Secured within the storage chamber I2 is a mass of dry soluble ink material I4, preferably in the form of a compressed solid cake, which fills the upper in- Iterior of the holder. Suitably affixed to the supporting member 8, with its upper end I5 engaged through the bore of the latter, is a chambered body I6, preferably of cylindrical shape, having above its lower end portion an annular flange l? to abut the underside of the supporting member 8. The lower end portion of said body I6, which projects freely downwardly into the upper end of the interior of the barrel I, is

of less diameter than the internal diameter of the latter, and is adapted to receive engagement thereover of the upper end of said sac 6. The body I6 is provided with an axiallyextending chamber I 8, the same being open at4 its upper end to communicate with theinterior of the ink material storage chamber l2, but is closed at its lower end by an end wall I9. The internal margins of the upper open end of chamber I 8 are flared or cha-mfered, as at 2G, to facilitate free ow vo-f coloring mixture from the ink material storage chamber I2 thereinto, or of liquid from the chamber i8 into said storage chamber I2, unimpeded by air bubbles, surface tension or like causes. The lower end wall I 9 of the cham.- bered body I 6 is provided with a central opening or port 2l between the interior of the reservoir sac 5 and the mixing chamber I8. At its outer or undersie, said lower end wall I9 of the body li is of preferably inverted conical shape, as at 22, or is otherwise formed to provide angular surfaces exten-ding from the margins of said opening or port 2l to the wall surfaces of the sac 5; such angular surfaces tending to deect air bubbles away from the opening or port when the pen is upturned to nonwriting position, as shown at a in Fig. 4, and thus prevents obstruction or impedance of the flow of liquid into the mixing chamber I 8 from the sac interior. At the same time, this angular surface formation of the end of the body I6 tends to prevent undesired creeping of coloring matter outwardly from the opening or port 2|, or dripping thereof from such point, when the pen is disposed in writing position, since the more or less sharp angular edges thereby formed around the opening or port 2l tend to hold the coloring mixture without breaking of its surface tension with consequent outward dissipation thereof. A novel means is provided for extension from the opening or portl ZI through the mixing chamber i3 and into the interior of the ink material storage chamber I 2, which functions to facilitate the inflow of liquid from the sac 6 as Well as to aid in controlling the emission of coloring mixture when the pen is up-turned and thereafter again downturned from and to normal writing position. This means comprises a duct piece 23 sized to t the opening or port 2i, in which the lower end thereof is aflixed. This duct piece 23 extends upwardly through the interior of the mixing chamber I 8 and terminates in a curved or laterally bent upper end portion 24, which preferably abuts the ared or chamfered upper margin 2t of upper open end of said chamber i8, and therefrom projects into the lower interior of the ink material storage chamber I2, to terminate in contact with or contiguous to the side wall surface of the latter. Said duct piece is provided with a longitudinally extending laterally open channel or ductway 25, suitably shaped to provide one or more fissures 2S along the length theres ,so that ow of liquid along the channel or ductway is not impeded by capillary resistance, surface tension of the liquid or like causes. The duct piece 23 is secured in place by a wedge block 2 which is inserted between the back side thereof and the adjacent wall of the mixing chamber I8.

The fountain pen as shown in the drawing, is

provided with the resilient or elastic reservoir sac l, which may be compressed and collapsed, so that on expansion after such compression, water may be sucked up through the pen nib feedhar t to ll the interior of the reservoir sac 6 therewith preparatory to use of the pen. Any suitable means for compressing the sac 6 may be provide-d, as, for example, a compression plate S3 suitably mounted between` the pen barrel wall and the sac, and capable of being actuated by the compression arm 29 of an operating lever 30 which is pivotally mounted in connection with the pen barrel wall, so as to be accessibly exposed at the outer surface of the pen barrel. It will be obvious, however, that the water reservoir may variously formed, and that lling thereof may se accomplished in various Ways, within the broader aspects of this invention.

Before describing in detail the manner in which the pen structure, above described, functions in producing writing uid, it may here be stated that in practice, when the pen is new, i. e. before it is put into use for the first time, it is desirable to provide the same with a small quantum 0f soluble ink material for priming purposes. '.This maybe done by inserting a small initial mass of ink material in the feed bar channel or within the sac interior so that the same will be immediately contacted by water when the latter is: introduced into the pen for the first time. Thereafter the writing iiuid will be maintained kept supplied with suicient renewal of coloring mixture during use of the pen and as refilled with water from time to time, by operation of the means for assuring and controlling the contact of liquid with the solid ink stored in the storage chamber I2 of the holder II, and by the functioning of said means in the production 'and emission of a coloring mixture I.formed by such contact.

When the pen is upturned to non-Writing position, the reservoir sac 5 is thereby disposed above the mixing chamber body I6 and the communieating ink material storage chamber I2, with the consequence that iiuid from the sac 6 gravitates to the opening or port 2| and entering the chan-k when the pen is turned back to Writing position fiows down into the mixing chamber I8. When the pen is downturned to Writing position and the fluid drains backinto the sac, it will carry with it a portion of the coloring mixture, which will be diffused through the fluid in the sac to give the same color and thus render the same serviceable as a writing fluid when delivered at the pen nib. When the pen is in writing position and the fluid drains back into the sac, a quantum of the thick or comparatively heavy coloring mixture will be retained in the mixing chamber I8, and for reasons already given will be so retained without tendency to drip or spread outwardly from the opening or port 2|. After use of the pen for writing is discontinued and the pen is again upturned to non-writing position, the fluid from the sac 6 will again seek to pass by aid of the duct piece 23 into the mixing chamber I8 and thence to the ink storage chamber I2, and in so doing will flow in contact with the thicker coloring mixture retained in the mixing chamber, to take up some of the same for mixture therewith. After use of the pen for writing exhausts the available writing uid, it will be necessary `to rell the sac 6 with water. There will, however, under these circumstances be a residue of inky uid in the sac which will be quite rich in color and will serve as a priming quantum of ink material to immediately color the incoming water introduced into the sac by a refilling operation, whereafter,

as the pen is turned back and forth from and to writing position, the fluid will pass in and out of the mixing chamber with the color mixture making effect and with such controlled emission of color mixture as to bring and maintain the fluid at desired color density for writing purposes. The duct piece with its flssured ductway always assures passage of the fluid from and to the sac and into and out of the mixing chamber and ink material storage chamber with the above described effects, and yet this duct piece maintains control of both such iiow of fluid as well as desired retention of the formed coloring mixture, as to prevent undue or wasteful emission of ink material. As a consequence of this, the pen may be relled with water as necessary time and time again until finally the ink material cake is entirely consumed. When the ink cake is consumed, a new cake may be introduced into the holder, or a new ink filled holder may be used to replace the exhausted holder.

It will also be understood that an action in the nature of osmosis occurs each time the pen is upturned to non-writing position. This is by reason of the somewhat thick or highly concentrated coloring mixture which is formed and retained in the mixing chamber I8 as compared with either the water per se or the less concentrated writing uid. The resultant molecular interchange is quite rapid at first, especially when the` sac is newly charged with water, due to the difference in osmotic pressure between the thick and relatively thin solutions. As the solutions are repeatedly brought in Contact, however, and the relatively thin solution is increased in concentration, the end osmosis is gradually retarded, and consequently the tendency is to maintain the writing fluid at a desired color density until a given supply thereof is exhausted.

It will be obvious that more or less variation of the specific form of the duct piece is possible, while still retaining its effect as a lead for assuring and controlling the in and out flow of uid relative to the mixing chamber I8 and ink storage chamber I2. More than one ductway can be provided. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the duct piece 23' therein illustrated may comprise a rodlike member having a series of fiuted grooves or fissures 26 along its surface and spaced around its circumference.

In some cases it has been found of advantage to provide means for lodging an exposed small quantity of heavy coloring mixture adjacent the outlet from the mixing chamber I8. This may be accomplished in several ways. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the exposed outer or lower end of the duct piece may be obliquely cut to thereby form a pocket 3|; or as shown in Fig. 7, the end of the duct piece may be gouged out to form a spoon-like cavity 32; or again the sides ofthe opening or port 2| where contiguous to the duct piece may be nicked, to provide a plurality of cavities or pockets 32, as shown in Fig. 8. When relatively heavy coloring mixture passes out through the ductway 25 and opening or port 2|, a portion thereof can be caught and held in said pockets or cavities, and retained therein, so that the fluid in the sac can immediately contact therewith, when the penis upturned to non-writing position, so as to absorb and diffuse the same in the fluid contained in the sac.

It will be obvious that many changes, in addition to those already indicated, may be made in the above described constructions, and different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims; consequently it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:-

1. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, an intercommunicating mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber, said mixing chamber means having a restricted port communicating with said water reservoir, and a uid conducting means extending from said port through said mixing chamber into said storage chamber. f

2. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said bar-` rel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, an intercommunicating mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber, said mixing chamber means having a restricted port communicating with said water reservoir, and a. duct means extending from said port through said mixing chamber into said storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway.

3. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communieating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, a mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber open toward the latter, said mixing chamber means having a closed end wall toward said water reservoir, an opening in said end Wall,

said end wall having angularly disposed outer surfaces inclining away from the margins of said opening and adapted to deflect ,obstructive air bubbles away from the latter, and fluid conducting means between said opening and the interior of said ink storage chamber.

4. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, a mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber open toward the latter, said mixing chamber means having a closed end wall toward said water reservoir, an opening in said end wa'll, said end wall having angularly disposed outer surfaces inclining away from the margins of `said opening and adapted to deflect obstructive air bubbles away from the latter, and a duct means extending from said opening through said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway.

5. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, a mixingv chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber open toward the latter, said mixing chamber means having a closed end wall toward said water reservoir, an opening in said end Wall, said end wall having angularly disposed outer surfaces inclining away from the margins of said opening and adapted to deflect obstructive air bubbles away from the latter, and a duct means extending from said opening through said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber, said Iduct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway, the upper end portion of said duct means curving outwardly from the upper open end of said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber so as to terminate contiguous to a side wall of the latter.

6. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, an intercommunicating mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber, and a duct means extending from the water reservoir communicating end of said mixing chamber means through the latter and into said ink storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway, the upper end portion of said duct means curving outwardly from the upper open end of said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber so as to terminate contiguous to a side wall of the latter.

'7. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, an intercommunicating mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber, and a duct means extending from the water reservoir communicating end of said mixing chamber means through the latter and into said ink storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway, the upper end portion of said duct means curving outwardly from the upper open end of said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber so as to terminate contiguous to a side wall of the latter, said upper open end of said mixing chamber having an outwardly flared mouth.

8. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including awater reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, an intercommunicating mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber, and a duct means extending from the water reservoir communicating end of said mixing chamber means through the latter and into said ink storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway, the upper end portion of said duct means curving outwardlyfrom the upper open end of said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber so as t0 terminate contiguous to a side wall of the latter, and means within said mixing chamber to brace and retain said duct means against displacement.

9, In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, said barrel having a soluble ink storage chamber means at its upper end, an intercommunicating mixing chamber means between said water reservoir and said storage chamber, and a duct means extending from the water reservoir communicating end of said mixing chamber means through the latter and into said ink storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway, the upper end portion of said duct means curving outwardly from the upper open end of said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber so as to terminate r contiguous to a side wall of the latter, and means at the discharge end of mixing chamber means adapted to hold a quantum of coloring mixture emitted from said mixing chamber.

l0. In a fountain pen of the kind described a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, a detachable and replaceable ink material holding means connected with the upper end of said barrel and having a downwardly open ink storage chamber, a mixing chamber means fixed within the upper end of said barrel below said ink material holding means, said mixing chamber means having an open upper end to communicate with the storage chamber of said ink holding means, said mixing chamber means having means of communication with said water reservoir, and a fluid conducting and control means extending from said last named means of communication through said mixing chamber and into said ink storage chamber.

1l. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, a detachable and replaceable ink material holding means connected with the upper end of said barrel and having a downwardly open ink storage chamber, a mixing chamber means fixed within the upper end of said barrel below said ink material holding means, said mixing chamber means having an open upper end to communicate with the storage chamber of said ink holding means, said mixing chamber means having means of communication with said water reservoir, and a duct means extending from said last named means of communication through said mixing chamber and into said ink storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway.

12. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, said barrel including a water reservoir communicating at its lower end with said feed bar, a detachable and replaceable ink material holding means connected with the upper end of said barrel and having a downwardly open ink storage chamber, a mixing chamber means iixed within the upper end of said barrel below said ink material holding means, said mixing chamber means having an open upper end to communicate with the storage Y chamber of said ink holding means, said mixing chamber means having means of communication with said water reservoir, and a duct means extending from said last named means of communication through said mixing chamber and into said ink storage chamber, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway, the upper end portion of said duct means curving outwardly from the upper open end of said mixing chamber into said ink storage chamber so as to terminate contiguous to a side wall of the latter.

13. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, a soluble ink storage means connected with the upper end of said barrel, a mixing chamber means fixed within the upper end of said barrel below said ink storage means and in communication with the interior thereof, a contractible and expansible water reservoir sac connected between and in intercommunication with said pen nib feed bar and the lower end of said mixing chamber means, means manipulatable from the exterior of saidV pen barrel for' contracting said water reservoir sac for water lling actuation thereof, and a iiuid conducting and control means extending from the point of communication of said mixing chamber with said water reservoir sac upwardly through said mixing chamber into said ink storage means.

14. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, a soluble ink storage means connected with the upper end of said barrel, a mixing chamber means fixed within the upper end of said barrel below said ink storage means and in communication with the interior thereof, a contractible and expansible water reservoir sac connected between and in intercommunication with said pen nib feed bar and the lower end of said mixing chamber means, means manipulatable from the exterior of said pen barrel for contracting said water reservoir sac for water filling actuation thereof, and a fluid conducting and controlling duct means extending from the point of communication of said mixing chamber with said water reservoirsac upwardly through said mixing chamber into said ink storage means, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway.

15. In a fountain pen of the kind described, a barrel provided with a throat section at its lower end to carry a pen nib and feed bar therefor, a soluble ink storage means connected with the upper end of said barrel, a mixing chamber means fixed within the upper end of said barrel below said ink storage means and in communication withthe interior thereof, a contractible and expansible water reservoir sac connected between and in intercommunication with said pen nib feed bar and the lower end of said mixing chamber means, means manipulatable from the exterior of said pen barrel for contracting said water reservoir sac for water iilling actuation thereof, and a fluid conducting and controlling duct means extending from the point of communication of said mixing chamber with said water reservoir sac upwardly through said mixing chamber into said ink storage means, said duct means having throughout its length a laterally open ductway, the upper end portion of said duct means curving outwardly from the upper open end of said mixing chamber into said ink storage means so as to terminate contiguous to a side wall of the latter.

RUSSELL B. KINGMAN. RALF L. HARTWELL. 

